Thanks for explaining about the energy balancing of the temperature, makes sense now, great tutorial as always, thanks George

Great to see big blue up and running George!! Thanks for the awesome content mate.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Jesse. I just shot a video following up on your latest video about youtube. Will post soon. George

Thank you so much for your videos. Not only are they very informative, but you make them a joy to watch. Because of you I am going to build a still this winter and begin this journey into distilling. Hope you are well during this crazy, COVID time!

Thanks for another great and informative video George , happy distilling

Another good segment, learn something every time even after watching all of the videos.

Much love George. Thanks for the info!

I was waiting to see a taste test, and possibly your diluting with the juice

You are an inspiration George, your videos are great and i am keen to try and make a home still. I have a T 500 so i can get a basic vodka. But i l8ke to play around and try to make a different flavor.

One of the few channels with only top shelf content. Cheers!!

I have learned a lot from you George, never done anything like this before, i dont even drink, but i love new skills. Thanks

I love what you did on the big blow I think that's great George she did a great job Mike

3yrs later, is Big Blue still holding up and serving ya well?

What a task... Congrats👏

Super cool man. Wish I was there, I’ll bet it smells good

Never seen a torpedo condenser, so this was really cool to watch it work:-)

I love my PID I built following your instructions. Mine is not as pretty but it works.

This is awesome, is exactly like my first still. Paste and all only open flame and used a modified corny keg for the condenser.

Makes me very glad that I didn't buy one. Thanks to you George!! Happy distilling!!💜🌷

Thanks George! Got started a few weeks ago with a home made thermal property chemical separator. First run looked like three monkeys "Fn" a football but got some fairly tasty product. Each run getting smoother thanks to you.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

Nice work!

@anonymousbastard2981

4 жыл бұрын

@@BarleyandHopsBrewing Love your channel! Love experimenting like you do . Plan to do a run of mead tomorrow. wish me luck. I also subed to your buds bearded and still it. #Happy thermal property chemical separating!

I wish I had a little more insight on what you used and how you made big blue. Thank you for all you do George

O'n I'm 67 years young now 'N spent 1981 to 1993 in Madison County, North Carolina, 400 miles inland in the Appellations. There I learned how to make 18% Good Home Brew with 15 lbs of sugar in a 10 gallon "White" plastic trash can, Champagne Yeast and a few other things and used a chain of wide rubber bands to hold a plastic trash bag tight against the top of the can. ;

Great video George, i have an old copper cream can about 5 gallons to build a still from. I dont want to go electric as it will destroy the rare cream can. So old School for this one.

@williamelliott5883

5 жыл бұрын

Don't use a thumper throes old cream pots sweat easy to mess up

@MADKIWI

5 жыл бұрын

@@williamelliott5883 cheers solder melts

Loved these videos. Learned a lot. Question: I've never seen a condenser like this one. I've always seen the small pipe used for it instead of a large one. Do you think all (or at least most) of the alcohol condensed to liquid?

George, I think of balancing the still like heatin up the griddle for pancakes. You have to wait until the heat is the same all the way across. One has to be patient ! Great video...Thanks!

@erichatmaker8240

5 жыл бұрын

George ya are tha man !!🌚🍻🍹🍓 got 14 L.B. L.B.S. of 🍓.s any suggestions and have 🍎🍏.s. N flaked rye. Loco in tha smokes!!!!!!

I use plumbers tape instead of paste to seal all of my non-soldered connections. I wrap the inside and the outside of the pipe and it seals like a dream and their is no mess.

@williamelliott5883

5 жыл бұрын

What a dum ass would u rather than poison ass hole like u gives us old time shiners a bad name

@olbenparker310

5 ай бұрын

I do the same thing!!! Works GREAT and easy to reuse if you are careful!

dude you are so smart, love your vides

Dude. You're awesome. 😅👌

George your the man! 👍

Thank you George!

George forgot to put his american flag sticker on Big Blue !

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

I did. Thanks for the reminder

Such passion.

can you put the heating element in the bottom of the running the element up toward the top?

Again excellent vid. But wheee do you measure temp. I get control but how is the actual temp known ?

I'm a big fan of Big Blue. She has inspired me to convert a 5gal stainless pot for stripping runs, then I can use my copper 2.5gal still for the spirit run.

I missed the video showing how you attached the stainless steel pot to the enamel coated lid of boiling kettle. Did you braze it or use gasket and screws?

Do you think it's safe to use plumbers putty in place of paste to seal leaks? Or will that effect flavor?

Always learn something new from your vids. Hope all is well we haven't heard from you in sometime. Your big blue vids are excellent just curious as to how the peach brandy tasted.

@ericenos1097

2 жыл бұрын

also another good thing to use instead of flour paste standard plumbers putty works great as well

George hope you can help me out. I made a batch of cantaloupe brandy (was a toss it in method) turned out awesome great flavour. Can’t seem to reproduce it. Can’t figure out why.....only thing different I didn’t add watermelon. Can’t get the flavour to come through again at all???

George I was wondering if the sweet spot (the temperature) of your still changes with the volume of product in your still. i.e. starting with one gallon of product on a run verses two gallons on another run. Thanks for all the fantastic videos, alg

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

I have not seen any change in sweet spot based on beginning volume. George

Very cool 😎!!!

Pretty cool 👍

sp basically i just need to take the pid and relay that i installed on my kiln and hook up those heating elements to it?

George, another great video. I've built two PID controllers and used the Mypin TA4-SNR but I like the size of the unit you used in this video and would probably a lot easier for these old eyes to navigate. Can you share the mfg and model on that one? Thanks, your efforts are greatly appreciated.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Mypin TA6 SNR

George, while watching you assemble the PID for the 220V heater element, I noticed you used a single SSR for control. My issue is with safety. If the heater element is left plugged in one side is live and a simple short to ground will not be protected. In industrial equipment all hot leads must be switched not just one. Thank you for the great videos and good information.

@sspence65

4 жыл бұрын

yeh, a DPST main power switch with a fuse on L1 and L2 should be used on the "line in" to the controller box.

Are you familar with the Jumo dtron 304 PID? I was given one and am havibg difficulity finding a program guide.

15:15 Nit noi pieces? Know some Thai do you? This makes me like your channel even more. :D

George, I’ve watched all 3. Fantastic as always. I would love to see a video of the final product. How to cut it with the remainder 3 cans of peaches. Did you put cinnamon or any other ingredients?

@txmustang6933

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been waiting for that for so long

once you have the cooling coil and the return line full almost any pump will work because the weight of the water going down helps the water going up equalizing the weight

FYI, if you need to pump vertically, invest in a little giant pump. The one i bought was 65 bucks and it's lasted for many runs. Hence the name "little giant'

Instead of the paste I use a couple wraps of 1/2" wide Teflon tape stretched tight - you are not dealing with a high pressure condition. That way it is not difficult to clean up.

When I am distilling water, I use the paste for the seal of the lid, but on the different joints, I just use one wrap of pvc electric tape, not the vinyl, it is MESSY, but the pvc, I just wrap it one turn on the joint and let it over lap some, I always bend the end over on itself so it is easy to find when time to disassemble, and the pvc electric tape comes off clean as a whistle, and leave no residue. Works for me, old timer.

Enjoy the channel. You're a good teacher. I watch moonshiners, they make some interesting shine. One's daughter in law asked for wedding cake shine. They went the bakery. The woman explained it had be ordered. They bought cupcakes. They got three and three quarters gallons. The parting comment. It'll probably wind up in thirty gallons of punch. Thought you'd enjoy the story. Thanks for being there.

Sweet!

Hi George. Would you consider using a third data point to determine when the tails start of just taste as it's coming off the still? If it's sweet then maybe it's still worth keeping? Also, when I taste my distillate I have never experienced the "wet dog" taste and smell of the Tails. It's been the same whether it's vodka, rum, whiskey or brandy washes. As the ABV goes down it just tastes more watery. Is that normal?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

That sounds good to me.

Hi George, Where is the video where you use the 3 cans that you saved to add the juice back in from?

You are the master sir

Can I use an aluminum pot to distill?

Why the steel pot column instead of a vertical of 2" copper pipe? Wouldn't that be easier?

Hi George, Great series. What was the brand of silicone you used to make your seals?

Looking for the conclusion of Peach Brandy in Big Blue. What is the name of the next one on this?

When you started this big blue still project. You said you were going to mash in with the malted popcorn for this still. All of a sudden you were on peach brandy. What happened to the popcorn.?

Doubling the voltage is always more efficient because they same amount of power is achieved at half the current. As far as your electric bill it won't matter, you pay for power, but it's still better because it's easier for the equipment to do harder work if that makes sense.

Is there a reason why you used a pot ontop of the lid, rather than a pipe? Im thinking it would make for better seperation of the stuff in the mash? Heavy stuff would fall back in to the still rather than into the condenser part? Hmmmm hm

I have been watching since before you started this project. I have an interest in distilling, currently homebrewing, but I see a significant barrier in the laws regarding owning or operating a still. Could you please help me understand what you did to be able to possess and use a still? I currently live in VA, so State Laws are definitely different, but Federal Laws are my real focus, since you are in Texas. Thank you so much!

@ALICEFREAK13

5 жыл бұрын

a still can be used for more them alcohol, (distilled water, essential oils...ect) so they are legal to own. it's what you do with it that makes it illegal. home brewed beer and wine are fine. spirits are illegal unless you have deep pockets for a license.

@jbrunson1949

5 жыл бұрын

Not saying that George does this!!!! but in doing a video of this type he has to be careful not to allow himself to be caught in the legal-illegal portion of the laws, so when he is showing it run it very well be just water being distilled, then as measurements being shown, he may show a re-poured amount of [ say 190 proof grain alc, bought from legal store, I am pretty sure that Texas is not one of the couple of states that do permit you to make up to a specific amount of alc. " I know if I were to do this I would have every detail of this made as I stated, a bottle of store bought in the cabinet in case someone did question me, now they would have to catch you in the act of the distilling , a video of how to do is an after fact that can be shown in many ways to look real but not necesary be real, " as far as your laws,, as on the moonshiners TV show, you would have to do as Tim did and get all the legal license and permits to become a distiller.

@jbrunson1949

5 жыл бұрын

OH,, by the way,,, by reading your question, I would be tempted to assume that YOU are NOT just a curious person, but an ATF agent, in disguise... Just sounds like a way to trap someone.. And after I just went to your youtube page, nothing there about you and not much in the videos, that would show you follow any of this type material.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Great explanation. I couldn't have done better myself.

@wes6243

5 жыл бұрын

@@jbrunson1949 Oh man! you caught me! I guess my online presence wasn't up to snuff for your impressive profile inspecting skills.

You could wrap the joint with some of your silicone to seal it too.

Hey George, great vid. Did the clamps fail or just not work? I see you have resorted to small G clamps would be very useful to know before I start a similar project.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

They were good but not enough of them to seal it completely. I added the clamps as a stop gap since I didn't have any more of the other ones. Big mistake when ordering them, I didn't get enough. George

@mitchmitcheson3287

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply, what distance are they currently apart and what distance do you now think is required for them to work?

Would not an SCR controller and much bigger surface area of reflux condensor be better? That way no need for chilled water just set the water flow in the condenser to balance the power set to perhaps 50 to 60% (once up to temp). Then adjust water flow to get the grades of distillate you want? Using a needle valve in reflux condenser warter flow.

Will you be putting a "plug" on the handy box for the Type K proub ???

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

I did, it was an in line version so I could un plug it and store it away.

Enjoy your videos. Instead of all of that wiring the element and stuff. Wouldn't it had been easier to set the pot on a single burner with it's own thermostat?

Question for anyone who will know!!!! If I do a run and my final product is 100 proof if I want a stronger spirit can I add that 100 proof back into a still and run or would I have to dilute it with water before running?????

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

It is best to dilute to around 30% before you run it. I would bring it down even lower ~ 20%. At 100 proof it is highly flammable and although you would think your production would be more pure it really would not be since the main carrier (water) which is the substance you want to separate from is not there in the quantity necessary for a smooth run.

My wash and my In the liquid in my fermentation bucket has turned white what happened

have you thought of using fizzerblocks instead of ice??? I find them easier than making or buying a lot of ice

@jeffreysolveson9623

5 жыл бұрын

What is a fizzerblock? I'm using ice and would like an alternative

@roytelling6540

5 жыл бұрын

OK You might know them as An ice pack or gel pack is a portable plastic bag filled with water, refrigerant gel, or liquid. For use the contents are frozen in a freezer.

@dougparkerfishingadventers9768

5 жыл бұрын

Recycle the water bottles. Fill them with water and freeze them.

I'm getting smarter with your help

its like watching beakman's world, but for adults

New to this game so forgive my ignorance, but how long do you wait from the time the ferment process is done until you can run it through the still?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

You can run it immediately if you want.

@odelloutdoors3424

4 жыл бұрын

Barley and Hops Brewing Is there an advantage to waiting and if so how long? Thanks for your reply. I’ve learned so much from your channel.

George I see you have a wood lathe in the background. Are you making any videos on turning wood? Still looking for your video on finishing your peach brandy.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

I do a little of both. Peach brandy is done. I did post a final and it was excellent.

@jbafternoonpiper404

5 жыл бұрын

@@BarleyandHopsBrewing did you cut it with water or peach juice?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

@@jbafternoonpiper404 Peach juice and a little water. I did it to taste. George

Where is your thermocouple at?

do you have methanol to deal with from fruit or sugar washes?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

yes

Could you use a hot water heater thermostat to control the temperature

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

They are manual and limited to around 150 degrees so they are not useful for this purpose unless you can revamp them for a higher temp.

What is that pot made of? Pardon my ignorance but I thought you were only supposed to use copper or stainless steel.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

This one is steel with an enamel coating on it. It is fine for this purpose. Stainless steel and copper are best but this one is right up there with them. George

50 bucks ? How much was all the electrics ?

Did you ever add any peach to the final product

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Yes I did. Loved it.

How exactly would I make a 5 gallon mash? How many cans/gallons and how much yeast.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

Please watch our beginners guide to distilling series

George. How much for the 240 heat controller you use in big blue

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Base model is $215

Do they sell PIDs already wired?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Yes I do. email me for more info

I want to buy big blue

induction cook tops may be a good thing

how did you cut the big hole in BIG BLUE!

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

Bi-metal hole saw

오빠야 시루본을 파이프에 붙여구나.

Hey George heard your talking parrot video. I’m blind how would I put this together?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

Paul You could have your sighted assistant help you with this.

Will a submersible pump work on a Turbo 500 still?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

Not sure. All depends on the GPH flow.

@williamalexander9226

4 жыл бұрын

@@BarleyandHopsBrewing 400 gph capabilities say up to 5.9 foot high. And happy Thanksgiving 😉

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

@@williamalexander9226 That should do it. Only concern is pressure. The pump may gravitate when the flow is restricted. Give it a try. I think it will work.

@williamalexander9226

4 жыл бұрын

@@BarleyandHopsBrewing Thank you for your input and I'm definitely going to try it out. Because that pressure regulator it way too much $ and the cooler and ice would work better for me. Thanks again.

i have a smaller pump than that..works perfect...everytime

You can use plumber's putty instead of paste

It sounds like you're picking up some audio interference caused by your fluorescent lighting or your temperature controller for your still try wrapping your camera in a little aluminum foil for some shielding to get rid of that hiss noise in the background when filming

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks

Space X loves you

Using a PID for this process is not ideal because you've got variable boiling points as the concentration of ethanol/water changes in the boiler. The PID isn't able to reconcile those complex conditions, and it is going to swing all over the place. Imagine a thermometer in a pot of boiling water. You can set the PID for 215F, but it's never going to reach that temperature. Instead, the electrical output will just go to 100% and you'll boil away the water more quickly. You need to switch the PID to manual mode and adjust the power output percentage. You can still use the head temperature as a guide.

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

Sorry Andy but you couldn't be more wrong on this topic. George

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

By the way, when have I ever set it at 215 or even suggested that?

@southcack8245

5 жыл бұрын

I agree with Andy. Chasing temps is over complicating things. Better yet, use the PID controller for mashing and build a resistive type controller with a potentiometer to control the output rate. Easy peasy. Run slow drips for fores removal, faster drip for heads, and a broken stream for hearts.

@andyh7537

5 жыл бұрын

@@BarleyandHopsBrewing - It was just an example to help folks do a "thought experiment". Phase changes in mixed liquids are very difficult for PIDs to control. If you search "PID Distilling", note that you're the only videos advocating for their use. That's not by accident.

Just a couple thing I would change George. Instead of the lid with a pot bolted on it. I would go with a copper pot or bowl then solder a copper pipe on it. More copper the better, it helps to remove more nasty things you don't want to drink. Another thing instead of taking the temp of the steam in the upper pot take the temp of the mash while its heating. 173 degree is the point where your drinking alcohol starts to boil off. Any higher you start getting more water. After you toss the heads and start collecting the hearts the stream should be slow and steady. Run to fast and your spirits will be hot. Your hearts will be a higher proof. Collect some or all of the tails to proof it down to a drinkable 80 or 90 proof. The hearts has more flavor. Last but not least. Let the spirits run over hardwood charcoal (not kingsford) from a fire. It will basically purify more of the nasty stuff out aka fusal oils. Other than that good videos but I'll stick to more traditional equipment and methods. Cheers!

PID? Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ? wrong recipe?

I'm not sure if anyone has brought this up but you used a female receptacle on your box. You will have a male to male cord to make this work. This is not a safe practice.

So, is this a stripping run, or are you skipping that step?

@BarleyandHopsBrewing

5 жыл бұрын

I seldom if ever use a stripping run. If you run a still correctly you don't need a stripping run.